Homeland Security

$30 million intelligence center coming to Selfridge

By Newsroom

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August 6, 2009

Some might consider the term military intelligence an oxymoron, but those two words are leading to about $30 million worth of federal investment in Macomb County.The feds plan to use that money to establish a Homeland Security Intelligence Center at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township, near the shores of Lake St. Clair. The Operational Integration Center will serve as a clearing house for intel for the busiest international crossings along the U.S.'s northern border.It will gather and analyze information collected by the Border Patrol Agents, Coast Guard, Michigan State Police and other local and federal agencies, along with their Canadian counterparts. This is a pilot program for the Dept. of Homeland Security.The idea behind the new intelligence center is to get a number of the departments and programs in the Dept. of Homeland Security to break down information silos and work together more effectively. Federal officials hope this will help prevent future terrorists attacks and other nefarious illegal acts and serve as a future model of cooperation for other federal agencies.Source: Office of Congresswoman Candice MillerWriter: Jon Zemke

Latest in Homeland Security

The Evolution Of Metro Community Colleges

By Terry Parris Jr.

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Arts and Culture

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July 9, 2009

Metro area community colleges have been remarkably adept at meeting the needs of Michigan's developing knowledge-based economy. From green building to biotechnology to the state's burgeoning film industry, these formerly maligned schools are delivering a timely education at an affordable price. And given their growing enrollment numbers, students are catching on.

DRIVE Developments hires 2, plans to double staff

By Newsroom

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General

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June 25, 2009

Ever wonder what makes the vehicles and robots in the U.S. military go? DRIVE Developments knows.The Sterling Heights-based firm specializes in diagnostics and controls for those types of vehicles. The company has turned this into a business with about a dozen people, up from just one person when it started a year ago. It has already hired two more so far this year."We're looking at doubling the size of our staff within the next year," says Larry Osentowski, spokesman for DRIVE Developments. It has been able to do that by expanding its client base into different agencies in the U.S. Department of Defense. It expects to continue this in the near future as it develops new products."We're developing a lot of new technologies that we expect to present to the military for funding," Osentowski says.Source: Larry Osentowski, spokesman for DRIVE DevelopmentsWriter: Jon Zemke

Dexter Research Center plans to expand, hire 47

By Newsroom

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General

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June 18, 2009

A longtime business institution in Dexter plans to stay even longer, and create a few more jobs in the process.Excerpt:Sometimes the siren call for strategic partnerships is too strong to keep companies where they were founded. Not so with the Dexter Research Center.The 31-year-old firm has renewed its lease on life by choosing to expand in its hometown, a move that will lead to 47 new jobs in the next five years. The defense contractor has strategic partnerships in Ohio and Massachusetts that were wooing the firm away from Michigan. A $313,000 state tax credit over seven years helped quiet them."We have always been here in Michigan," says Cory Ziegler, controller of the Dexter Research Center. "We enjoy being here."Read the rest of the story here.

Automation Alley plans to open defense office in Macomb

By Newsroom

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General

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June 18, 2009

Automation Alley is gearing up to open a new office in Macomb County that will focus on the defense industry.The economic development agency plans to staff between 4-6 people at the office. Automation Alley's leadership is looking at opening it in either Sterling Heights or Warren before the summer is over."Our intent is to find defense procurement opportunities for businesses in southeast Michigan," says Ken Rogers, executive director of Automation Alley.Automation Alley choose Macomb County because of the federal military lab located in Warren. There are also a number of defense contractors that have set up shop in Sterling Heights. Source: Ken Rogers, executive director of Automation AlleyWriter: Jon Zemke

W Industries adds 50 people, plans to hire 100 more

By Newsroom

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Community Development

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May 14, 2009

Manufacturing is taking on a new definition in Detroit, thanks to growing firms like W Industries, who saw the automotive decline on the wall and adjusted their focus.Excerpt:When politicians talk about moving Detroit's manufacturing base from solely automotive-oriented to a combination of auto, alternative energy, aerospace and defense, they probably have W Industries in mind.The Detroit-based manufacturer depended on the automotive sector for about 100 percent of its work in 2005. Today automotive only accounts for 10 percent. The rest is in aerospace and defense, and W industries is planning to grow into the alternative energy manufacturing sector. It's all part of an aggressive manufacturing growth plan."We're very optimistic about future and hopeful other businesses in the city can do the same," says Edward Walker, president and CEO of W industries.Read the rest of the story here.

Patriot Services expands profit margins, payroll

By Newsroom

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Arts and Culture

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May 7, 2009

Growth is a key word for Patriot Services now that it's experienced growth in its revenue, profits, and payroll. When we last checked in with the Walled Lake-based safety-consulting firm last summer it was clocking 60 percent revenue growth, nine full-time employees, and 20 independent contractors. It's now counting on 100 percent revenue growth and employs 11 full-timers and 25 independent contractors today. All that extra revenue meant even more in profits."From a profitability standpoint, it was significantly more than that (100 percent revenue growth)," says Stephen Potter, CEO and co-founder of Patriot Services.The firm, run by a former Army Ranger and a recently retired Oakland County Under Sheriff, hopes to continue that growth this year. "Our primary goal is revenue growth," Potter says. "If we were to hit 100 percent for the next few years, that would be good."Patriot Services has offices in Indianapolis and Cincinnati. The firm helps government bodies from the local level to the feds and private companies prepare for things like natural disasters and terrorist attacks. It plans to go after more federal contracts this year and hopefully add some more people along the way. Source: Stephen Potter, president of Patriot ServicesWriter: Jon Zemke

Emerging Biz In Oakland County

By Prosper Oakland County, MI

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Arts and Culture

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April 13, 2009

For March Oakland County saw $42.4 million of investment and 571 jobs created from 5 companies from the county's Emerging Sectors Program, the Traditional Sectors program, and the Film industry.

Homeland security teeming with opportunities

By Newsroom

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Arts and Culture

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April 9, 2009

Homeland Security sounds like a DC Comic book. But it's an industry that, because of (and here's these two words again) stimulus money, is filled with business opportunities.Excerpt:He and the company Chief Servicing Officer, Scott Hiipakka, both said the recent federal stimulus bill signed in February had little if any allocation for homeland security. But several public projects such as buildings and infrastructure to be funded out of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act may need subsequent security and emergency preparedness services."There's a definite increase in participation in the consortium," Potter also said. "At each event we attend like this, I’d guarantee at least five or six people will make connection with us afterward about learning more."Read the entire article here.

Walsh College survey finds what ‘new economy’ businesses want to change

By Newsroom

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Entrepreneurship

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April 2, 2009

We're in an era of change. Moving forward from what seems to have been in play since the 80s, when Reagan was in office. Now, a Walsh College survey uncovers the thinking of new economy firms.Excerpt:"The results indicate 'new-economy' businesses want policies that will reduce business taxes while advancing strategies to better prepare our workforce, retain our graduates, and rebuild our roads and bridges," Walsh College President and CEO Stephanie Bergeron said. “That has been an important issue raised by many business leaders. However, the considerable support for education and retraining initiatives is significant, as evidenced by the high ranking of work-relevant curriculum changes, expanding the role of workforce development, and finding ways to keep graduates in Michigan. We believe these are critical issues to address if we are to have the workforce necessary for a knowledge-based economy."